An Austrian MEP (Member of the European Parliament) has exposed, with photographic evidence, a massive scam of expense money, by hundreds of MEPs, including 30 from the UK alone. It's no wonder that all these gravy—train European politicians don't want the EU project to fail in the British vote on a European Constitution — they'd be thousands of pounds out of pocket — poor things. The London Sunday Times newspaper reports on it today, but the link is via paid subscription only.

During a two—year investigation, Hans—Peter Martin, an Austrian MEP, has filmed scores of Euro MPs nipping into Parliament to sign up for their daily parliamentary allowance before heading off home minutes later.

The cynicism of these Euro politicians is astounding. They are so desperate to rip—off the European taxpayers that they will fly into Brussels or Strasbourg just to clock on, and then leave a few moments later, just in order to claim their expenses for the whole day. And they want a Constitution?

Currently MEPs are able to claim the allowance on Fridays at Strasbourg even though the Parliament sits there only from Mondays to Thursdays.

Isn't that nice? They get expenses even for days that they don't work.

On Friday, Martin's attempts to film Gordon Adam, an MEP for the northeast of England, signing on at the Strasbourg Parliament building ended in an angry fracas. Martin crashed to the floor after Adam tried to grab his video camera and then lunged at him.

In the picture which accompanies the article in the Sunday Times, a caught red—handed and very angry looking British MEP Gordon Adam is seen standing over the prone Hans—Peter Martin who had just snapped him fiddling his expenses. It's quite an incredible photo because it shows just how nasty and violent these British leftist MEPs become once their scam has been uncovered.

Martin claims to have records of 197 MEPs from 15 member states that he has submitted to the Parliament's authorities. These include 36 British and Northern Ireland MEPs.

They are all at the trough, and the very sad part of it is that approximately 40% of all British MEPs were caught fiddling their expenses. It proves that the money scams and expense fiddles have lured British politicians into the bottomless pit of Continental European corruption.

Among those caught on camera by Martin is Catherine Stihler, the Scottish Labour MEP. The video shows her entry into the register in Brussels at 9am on Thursday, November 13, last year. Martin then records himself on the video calling her office in the parliament at 10.27am and speaking to her assistant, who says: 'She is flying back to Scotland today. Asked whether Stihler is already on the plane, the assistant adds: 'Yes, I hope so.'

So, Catherine Stihler, the Scottish Labour MEP, probably stayed at her office long enough to have a continental breakfast, and an hour later was already on a plane back to Scotland. These Socialists really know how to live the good life.

Glenys Kinnock, wife of Neil Kinnock, the European commissioner and former Labour leader, has also been monitored by Martin. He claims she has left the Parliament within an hour of signing on at least 26 times, making her by his reckoning Labour's most prolific claimant. A spokesman for Kinnock said yesterday: 'She does not want to give these allegations credibility by commenting on them. She's broken no rules and got nothing to hide.

What is really incredible about the Kinnocks, a married couple, who represent the epitome of Champagne Socialists, is that her husband, Neil Kinnock, was on the BBC Politics Program this morning, pontificating about why the British people should not be allowed a vote in the EU Constitution referendum. Of course, he doesn't think the British people should have a vote because he and his wife may just lose out on future expense scams. Think about all those thousands of pounds they'd have to do without. That's not the kind of democracy these Champagne Socialists have in mind.

Neena Gill, the West Midlands Labour MEP, is accused of making eight claims, in a dossier Martin has now submitted to the parliament's president, Pat Cox. Gill's claims came despite her attempts to curb EU expenditure. Martin recorded her grumbling at the voting down of her proposals to restrict translation costs. 'It's really like a gravy train gone mad,' she says.

So they know they are ripping off the European taxpayers but carry on doing it regardless. It just demonstrates the high caliber of individual that becomes an MEP; full such high and lofty principles.

Gordon Adam signed the Strasbourg register at about 9am last Friday watched by Martin. Seconds later Martin was heard to shout for help from the registration office. Footage from his camera shows Adam attempting first to grab it and then the MEP, before Martin falls to the floor. Adam later claimed Martin's allegations that he had cashed in on the loophole were 'completely unfounded'. Pointing at Martin, he said: 'That man is a disgrace.'

No Mr. Adam, you are a disgrace, and thanks to Hans—Peter Martin you and your Euro scammers have been exposed. Lets hope that all of these MEPs are punished by their electorates come the next European elections in June.

Michael Morris is our London correspondent